Abdul-Jabbar told stories about becoming a Brooklyn Dodger fan at a young age because of Robinson and getting to meet him later in life. “Jack always had the idea that he was an equal human being

In 2004, MLB established April 15 as Jackie Robinson Day because that was the day he debuted for the Dodgers and broke the league's color barrier in 1947.

Gathering at the Jackie Robinson statue in Centerfield Plaza has become a special annual tradition for the Dodgers every April 15, when the baseball world observes the anniversary of Robinson breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier.